Fair
offers potential students information on college
choices
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 • By MALENA
JACKSON • The Express-Times
WASHINGTON -- Many of the region's high school students
got their first taste of college Monday night at fair
sponsored by Warren County Community College.
The fair had over 100 colleges and universities on hand
with applications and personnel to answers questions.
Admission staffs addressed concerns facing today's
potential college student from how to complete the
application and what scholarships are available to finding
the right fit.
Money was on the mind of many and WCCC was there to help
ease the burden with financial aid information greeting them
as soon as they walked through the door.
"The mounting cost of a college education today has
students coming to the college fair searching for ways to
pay for their education," said Fae Guerin, coordinator of
student success at WCCC.
But some parents have come up with creative ways to save
money while making sure their children receive a quality
education.
Charles Luszcz's daughter, Jessica, will be his second
child to enter college in the fall and he has a plan.
Jessica Luszcz is a senior at North Warren Regional High
School who is currently in the top two percent of her class.
She might head to WCCC for the first two years to take
advantage of the New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance
Reward Scholarship Program.
The NJ STARS program makes it possible for high school
students who graduate in the top 20 percent of their class
to attend their local community college for free up to five
semesters. Warren County residents must attend WCCC to
qualify. NJ STARS will pay for tuition and other fees.
After two years, Jessica Luszcz could transfer to a
four-year institution that accepts her credits from WCCC and
graduate from that college.
"This is the best way for us right now, my son did it,
and it's a good way to save money," said Charles
Luszcz.
Jessica Luszcz and her dad both agree that this is a
good option to have, but they are still on the fence about
the decision.
"I still have time to decide," Jesscia Luszcz said.
Guerin said most students make a stop at WCCC before
going on to a four-year college.
"Students come here to save money. We're small and
friendly with a high-quality curriculum," she said.
"Students stop here to build their skills and
confidence."
College admissions representatives also provided advice
on how to produce winning college applications.
Drew University's Associate Dean and Director of College
Admissions Matthew Mergen said applicants should learn
something about themselves throughout the process.
"The application is a building block in preparing for
college," said Mergen. "The process should give each student
insight about their goals and who they really are."
Having the time to focus on which schools to apply to,
writing the essays and finding the right people to provide
references takes time, Mergen said. High school juniors and
even sophomores have caught on to the value of beginning the
college search early, he said.
Rachel Kolodzieski, 16, a junior at North Warren
Regional High School, attended the fair with her parents to
broaden her college search. There are a few things she's
sure of -- she doesn't want to go far and she wants to major
in Spanish. Kolodzieski said it helps to come out and see
that there are so many schools to choose from.
The annual college fair is sponsored by WCCC as a
community service to residents. The fair used to rotate
among area high schools before it landed at the
college.
Guerin said that hosting the college fair makes it
easier to get all high school students and their parents out
for one night to focus on choosing a school and discovering
their options.
Monday night's college fair should only be the beginning
in deciding whether to attend college according to college
representatives.
Vivia Hill, senior assistant director of admissions at
Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., advised students to take it
a step further.
"We at Ithaca College encourage students and their
parents to get out," Hill said. "They must go beyond the
brochures and these tables to get out and see the colleges
they're thinking about. Visit the classes while they are in
session, spend the night on campus, talk to other
students."
© 2004 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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